DISPLAYS OF HEROISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2714, 14 March 1906, Page 43

DISPLAYS OF HEROISM.

A distressing accident occurred on th United States transport Meade at San Francisco on January 31. The vessel wa--at dock, ready to sail for the Philippines, when a fire was discovered in the hold. The alarm was given shortly before midnight, and by a desperate endeavour the fire was extinguished before reaching a vast quantity of ammunition stored on board the vessel. Deadly fumes poured up from the fire, which was not extensive.

Before 3 o'clock all the city ambulances wore in use carrying away men who had been overcome by the deadly gases whik' attempting to put out the fire. Three men bravely gavo up their lives. Among thestwas the third officer, George Wallace, ol Meade— a native of Sydney, N.S.W. Wai lace was 25 years old and a resident of this country for several \ears. His bravery during the fire was conspicuous during a night crowded with deeds of heroism When the fire was reported Wallace and the fourth officer. Dahl. went into the hold f) investigate. The captain and several

men responded to the alarm, and the captain fell to the floor unconscious. Wallace and Dahl carried him to his cabin. Then, realising the danger of the vessel, again v\ont below, groping their way through blinding smoke in an endeavour to find the seat of the flames. Wallac ■ was overcome on the ladder and fell at Dahl's feet. Dahl picked him up, ascended the ladder half-way, and himself fell helpless to the foot. By this time the firemen were fighting their way through the dense smoke, and the men were carried to the deok. The firemen were o\ercome.

but were :evived bj the aid of surgeons, and again rushed into the smoke. The effort to put out the fire became almost frantic, and was successful. Two members of the San Francisco Fire Department were suffocated in spite of efforts to save them by their gallant comrades. Dahl. when he recovered consciousness, raved pitifully about Wallace insisting upon being allowed to go back into the inferno to rescue him. The fm-mon finally reached the source of the trouble, and extinguished the blaze, which was found to be in the coal bunkors underneath the compartments in which the

i baggage and freight were stored. A ouriI ou 5 feature of the disaster is the small j damage to the vessel and contents. It is I said the loss could be repaired for 500dol. i The San Francisco public donated generj ouely to the bereaved families of the martyred firemen, a sum approaching 20.000d0l having been raised for them by a baseball game benefit and other means. The distress of the disaster i= mitigated by the reflection of what it would have i meant had it occurred a few honr6 Jafcer, i when th© vessel would have been at sea, and beyond heip.